Mary Elizabeth Winstead Thriller ‘Faults’ Goes To Screen Media

Screen Media Films has set a March 6, 2015 U.S. release date for Faults, an indie thriller starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead that premiered earlier this year at SXSW. Winstead stars as Claire, a cult member whose parents hire a deprogrammer (Leland Orser) to kidnap and rehabilitate her, sparking a battle of wits between the two. Writer-director Riley Stearns makes his feature debut with Faults, which was produced by Snoot Entertainment’s Keith Calder and Jessica Calder along with Winstead. Brian Joe is exec producer and Chris Harding and Roxanne Benjamin are co-producers.

Beth Grant, Chris Ellis, Jon Gries and Lance Reddick also star in the film, which will open nationwide theatrically along with a day-and-date VOD platform release. Screen Media’s Seth Needle made the deal after catching the film at SXSW. “Everyone at Screen Media has expressed such passion for the film, and it’s a pleasure to work with a company that wants to support strong young filmmakers like Riley Stearns,” said Keith Calder. Snoot previously produced the horror flick You’re Next and reteamed with its writer Simon Barrett and helmer Adam Wingard for The Guest, which Picturehouse will release September 17. The shingle’s upcoming slate includes Sean Byrne’s The Devil’s Candy and Charlie Kaufman’s stop-motion animated feature Anomalisa.

The deal on Faults was negotiated by Suzanne Blech and Needle for Screen Media with WME Global on behalf of the filmmakers. Screen Media’s Blech and Needle also pacted on a second film acquisition from Snoot for The Key Man, starring Jack Davenport, Hugo Weaving, Judy Greer, and Brian Cox, which will hit iTunes, VOD, and DVD in early 2015.